Swivel for light and drop cords and the like



July 9, 1929. E. w. BALDWIN SWIVEL FOR LIGHT AND DROP CORDS AND THE LIKEFiled April 2, la

6 2 Sheets-Sheet W Hm. W.,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 9, 1929. E. w. BALDWIN SWIVEL FOR LIGHT AND DROPCORDS AND THE LIKE 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 2 ATTORNEY PatentedJuly 9, i929.

UNITEDA STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ELDON4 BALDWIN, OF NAMPA, IDAHO,l ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN C.

' SEWELL, OF NAMPA, IDAHO. i

SWIVEL FOR LIGHT AN D DROP CORDS AN D THE LIKE.

Application led April 2,

The present invention has for its purpose to provide, in a swivelfixture for light and drop cords and conductors to other electricaldevices, a construction of two sections forining the swivel, with meansfor swivelly uniting the two sections, thereby preventing the f cordfrom twisting and winding up, more especially should the cord be ofgreat extent in length.

Another purpose is to provide means for fastening the wires oit' thecord to the two sections of the swiwel, the two sections consisting ofinsulating material, with imbedded conducting means therein for insuringthe l5 conduction of electric current.

Still another purpose is to provide antirictional means between 'the twosections of the swivel, to allow the two sections to freely inove.

further purpose is to provide yieldable contacts between the twosections 'of the swivel, certain of the contacts being in the :torni oia circular ring, so that when the sections relatively swivel, thecontacts remain engaged at all times.

ifi further purpose is a provisionfand means for perinittino` two.'three or four wires to be f* b ponnected to the sections or" theswivel,"and yet permit the sections to swivel relatively to each other.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no wayliniitive and that while still keeping within the scopeof the invention,any desired modifications of detail andV- desired proportionsmay be madein the apparatus according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and the 'combination of parts,as will be vhereinafter set forth, shown'in the drawings and claimed. 'f

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation ofy an electric lightdrop cord, showing the vimproved `Swivel!connecting the two sections ofthe cord. Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view through theswivel.

Figure 3 is aiplan end view of oneiof the sections of the swivel,showing the yieldably mounted contacts.

l VFigureA is an end plan view on' the other 1926. Serial No. 99,397.

- tact.

nated. 6o l Figure 7 is a sectional view Online 7 7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the swivel as mounted on a screw plug.

Figure 9 is a view in elevation or" the swivel as mounted on a pushplug.

Figure l0 is an end View of one section of the swivel, showing threecircular contact rings in addition to the center stationary contact, sothat four conductors or leads may be connected to each section of theswivel, and thereby prevent the entanglen ment of the cord.

Referring to the drawings, more especially Figure l, ldenotes anelectric fixture cornprising a drop cord and the usual drop light orbulb 2. The drop cord comprises the two sections 3 and 4, the lattercarrying the drop light or bulb, the former depending from the ceilingor other suitable location. The two sections of the drop cord areconnected by the improved swivel 5, which consists obli the two sections6 and 7. These sections are constructed of any suitableinsulating-material, preferably porcelain or the like, and cast s orformed in the section 6 are conductors 8 and 9 provided with sockets l0and 11, designed to receive plugs .or terminals (not shown) to becarried by the two wires 12 and 13, which are encased in the section 3of the drop cord. Suitable set screws 14 and 15 are threadedtransversely of the section 6 of the swivel and through the portions ofthe walls of the conductors 8 and 9, partly adjacent to and into thevsockets 10 and 11. The heads of the set screwsY are countersunk in thesection 6, while the ends of the Shanks of the set screws are designedto bear against the plugs (not shown) carried by the wire 122 and 13,for the purpose of securing CTI ` (not shown) carried by the-wiresorleads the plugs in the sockets and insuring proper electricalconnections.

` Formed or encased in the section 7 are conductors 16 and 17, likewiseprovided'with sockets`18 and 19, for the reception of plugs `17 extendsthrough the extension 25 and terminates in a flat contact head 26. Theconductor 16 terminates in a iat. circular contact ring 27, which liesagainst the ,face 28 of the porcelain'section 7.

The conductors 8 and 9 have sockets 29 and 30 for the reception ofcontact pins 31 and 32. Upon inspection of Figure 2 of the draw-l ing itwill be noted that the conductor 9 terminates inthe bottom of th socket24, therefore the nose of the contac pin 32 projects into the socket 24and is in axialalignment with the conductor 17 I 'u The socket 29 of theconductor 8 aligns axially with the center of the conductor 16, and itsnose protrudes in order to ride against the face of the contact ring 27.Suitable coil expansion'springs 33 and 34 are mounted in Athe sockets 29and 30 to insure a yieldinglaction for the pins, the contact pin`32engaging with the Contact head of the conductor 17.

Obviously, as long as the two adjacent ends ofthe sections 6 and 7 ofthe swivel are positioned as shownin Figure 2 to enable' the pins 31 and32'to contact with the ring and the head, electrical connections betweenthe conductors in the two sections of the drop cord are aii'orded.Furthermore, the two sections of the swivel are permitted to havefreedom, oi movement swivelly.

To insure the swivel action the two sections 6 and 7 have shoulders 35and 36 provided with runways 37 and 38, which are engaged by,Yanti-frictional ball bearings 39 and 40. These ball bearin s are carriedin conve tional retaining rings 41 and 42. For t e purpose of holding,the retaining rings 41 and 42 in Aposition carrying the anti-frictionalball bearings, suitable sleeves 43 and 44 are provided. -These sleevestelescope the adjacent end portions of the-two sections 6 and 7 of theswivel, and have annular flanges 45 and 46 which engage with and retainthe rings' 41 and'42 in position. The sleeves 43 and 44 are threadedtogether as indicated at 47 Obviously, the two sections 6 and7 arecapable of swivel movement relative to each other,

there still remaining electrical connections at all times between theconductors 8 and 9, an 16 and 17.

Referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that the yieldable contact pins31 and 32 are elimi- -nated and in lieu thereof` the. conductors 8' and9a have contact heads 8b and 8c, which engage with the contact ring 27of the section 7 of the swivel and the contact head 26 of the conductor17 of the .section 7 ofthe swivel respectively. In Figure 6 the contactring 27 is carried by the conductor 16. These contacts and conductorsaord electrical connections between the wires 12 and 13, and 20 and 21as shown in Figure 1.

In order to afford yieldable pressure between the contacts and yieldableaction for the sections 6 and 7, expansion coil springs 50 and 51 areinterposed between the ball bear.A

ing retaining rings 41 and 42 (which are reversed in position to thosein Figure 2) and theshoulders 37a and 38a. In this instance the ballbearings engage with the flanges 45 and 46 of the sleeves.

`Referring to Figure 10 it is to be noted that the adjacent faces of thetwo sections of the swivel may beprovided with three contact rings 52,53 and 54, which together with the central contact head, there may befour electrical connections aorded. In this manner most any numberoftelectrical connections may be made. When using the four contactrings, they are connected to the conductorsl 55, 56 and 57, Vshown indotted lines in Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 8 it will be noted that the swivel is adapted foruse in connection with a screw plug, while in Figure 9 the swivel is1adapted to use in connection with a. push p ug. f

The invention having been set orth, what is claimed is Y 1. In a swivelfor two sections of a drop cord, the combination with two insulatingsections, one socketed within the other, of means includinganti-frictional elements for swivelly uniting the two insulatingsections said means permitting movement of said sections towardand fromeach other, electrical conductors encased within the insulatingsections, certain of said conductors provided with a stationaryncontactring anda stationllO ary head, other of said electrical conductorsprovided with movable contacts, one-engaging with the contactringand`the other engaging with` the contact head.

2. In a swivel for two sections of a drop said insulating sections,having shoulders, thesleeves having abutment shoulders, anti-fricftional n'ieans between the two sets of shoulders, electrical conductorsencased within the insulating sections, certain of said conductorsprovided with a stationary contact ring and a stationary head, other ofsaid conduct-ors provided with movable contacts, one engaging with thecontact ring and the other engaging with the contact head, the remoteends of the conductors having sockets, and means passing through theinsulating sections and 10 partially into the sockets for holding plugsin the socketsl and retaining the conductors in position in theinsulating sections.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ELDON W. BALDWIN.

